The December 2011 issue of Paralegal UPDATE, the online bulletin for paralegals, is now available. This issue includes information about the first Welcome Reception for newly licensed paralegals, nominations for the Distinguished Paralegal Award, annual fee increases for 2012, the five-year review of paralegal regulation, and more.

The Law Society is reviewing the manner in which licensed paralegals have been regulated, and the effect that regulation has had on licensed paralegals and on the public who have used paralegal services. Those interested in providing written comments should submit them to the Law Society on or before January 31st, 2012.

Convocation approved a proposal to initiate the development of a pilot online family law platform. Convocation also approved a pilot career counselling resource program and set priorities for the 2011-2015 bencher term.

The Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission invites parties wishing to comment on matters within the Commission’s mandate to forward their written submissions to the Commission by January 16, 2012.

The Law Society’s governing body today approved its 2012 budget with modest annual fee increases of 2.2 per cent for lawyers and 2.6 per cent for paralegals. The 2012 fee for a practising lawyer will increase by $41, from $1,785 to $1,826, while the fee for licensed paralegals will increase by $25, from $957 to $982.

The 2011 SSHRC Gold Medal for Achievement in Research was awarded today to Constance Backhouse in a ceremony at the University of Ottawa. The prestigious prize is awarded each year by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to an outstanding individual whose leadership, dedication and originality of thought have significantly advanced understanding in his or her field of research.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Law Society of Upper Canada has been selected as one of the Greater Toronto Area's Top Employers as part of an annual competition to identify employers with exemplary workplace environments.

The County and District Law Presidents’ Association (CDLPA) is pleased to welcome The Honourable Robert Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, to its annual Plenary Dinner to speak about Bill C-10, Safe Streets and Communities Act.

Renowned Canadian author and Giller Prize winner Joseph Boyden will captivate listeners with a reading from his published essay on Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont during a reception at the Law Society on November 16 to commemorate Louis Riel Day.

Reliable reports indicate that widespread arrest, detention and conviction of human rights lawyers continue in Iran and reflect the Iranian government’s general constraint on dissent. The Law Society of Upper Canada has repeatedly condemned the harassment of lawyers in Iran.

The Law Society of Upper Canada regulates the lawyers and paralegals of Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society ensures that all lawyers and licensed paralegals in Ontario meet standards of learning, professional competence and professional conduct that are appropriate for the legal services provided.

The Law Society’s governing body today approved a two-year extension of the Justicia project. The first of its kind in Canada, Justicia is a pilot project designed to retain and advance women in the private practice of law.

The Justicia Project and Parental Leave Assistance Program were extended and the final report of the Federation's Common Law Degree Implementation Committee were approved. Read about these and other decisions in October Convocation news.